Ex  ffithrta 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  hook 

Because  it  has  heen  said 
"Ever'thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


AEW  YORK  STATE  FAIR 

AND 

AGRICULTURAL 
AND  INDUSTRIAL 

EXPOSITION 

I841-SYRACUSE-1912 


President 
Thomas  F.  Conway 

Secretary 
Stanton  C.  Shaver,  Syracuse 


Thomas  F.  Conway,  New  York 
Charles  A.  Wieting,  Cobleskill 


COMMISSIONERS 

Calvin  J.  Huson,  Albany 
George  W.  Driscoll,  Syracuse 
William  H.  Jones,  Woodbury 


Vice-President 
Calvin  J.  Huson 

Treasurer 
Albert  E.  Brown,  Syracuse 


Barry  Murphy,  Medina 
Ira  Sharp,  Lowville 


"View  of  Crowd  near  Manufacturers  and  Liberal  Arts  Budding 


HE  ENCOURAGEMENT  AND  DEVELOPMENT 
OF  AGRICULTURE  IN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW 
YORK  —  THAT  IS  WHAT  THE  NEW  YORK 
STATE  FAIR  AND  EXPOSITION  STANDS 
FOR  FIRST. 

Like  all  great  expositions  it  has  horse  racing,  aeroplane  flights 
and  races,  band  concerts,  midway  attractions  and  always  a  Governor, 
and  occasionally  a  President  of  the  Nation,  but  it  never  gets  away 
from  the  original  purpose  for  which  it  was  founded  eighty  years  ago. 

And  New  York  State  agriculture  is  again  in  the  ascendency. 
Who  will  say  that  this  is  not  due  in  a  large  measure  to  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  State's  annual  exposition  ? 

At  least,  it  must  be  admitted  that  many  thousands  of  farmers 
have  received  new  hope  and  fresh  inspiration  from  the  Fair's  great 
educational  features  in  the  State  Institutions  and  State  Dairy  build- 
ings. The  lectures  and  practical  talks  by  agricultural  authorities  and 
the  exhibits  and  demonstrations  by  State  agricultural  schools  form 
Lieutenant-Governor  Conway  a  very  important  part  of  the  Fair. 

Last  year  1  28  farm  boys — clean,  alert,  determined  young  men  with  the  purpose  of  making  farming  a  life 
work — went  back  to  their  homes  in  sixty  counties  scattering  the  knowledge  gained  at  the  Fair  in  all  branches 
of  agriculture.  The  State  had  these  farm  boys  as  guests  for  a  week  to  stimulate  greater  interest  in  improved 
methods  of  agriculture  and  that  they  might  tell  hundreds  of  others  what  the  State  Fair  really  represents. 


This  is  one  of  the  many  ways  the  State  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture has  of  working  with  the  State  Fair  Commission.  It  means  more 
than  tilling  the  soil,  sowing  the  seed  and  gathering  the  crops.  The 
State's  dairy  interests  yield,  it  is  reckoned,  about  $60,000,000  a  year. 
The  horses  on  New  York  State  farms  have  a  value  of  close  to  $100,- 
000,000,  and  good  markets  for  the  better  types  of  heavy  draft  horses 
are  to  be  found  in  the  large  cities.  New  York  State  has  more  cattle 
of  the  breeds  valuable  for  dairy  purposes  than  any  other  State  and 
there  is  a  constant  demand  for  New  York  cattle  from  the  outside. 
The  sheep,  swine  and  poultry  raising  industries  have  been  growing 
richer  with  enlightenment  as  to  the  better  breeds  and  the  most  ap- 
proved methods  for  handling  stock.  The  fruit  growing  industry  in 
this  State  has  been  developing  wonderfully  and  will  continue  to 
develop.    It  is  important  that  the  farmer  know  these  things. 

Syracuse  gave  the  State  Fair  its  permanent  home  but,  it  must  be 
remembered,  the  State  Fair  does  not  belong  to  Syracuse.    It  is  dis- 
tinctly a  State  institution,  promoting  the  welfare  not  alone  of  agricul- 
tural interests  but  all  interests  which  make  the  Empire  State  first.  As 
such  it  is  deserving  of  the  support  of  the  entire  State.     That  the 
people  have  been  coming  to  appreciate  this  is  shown  by  the  steady 
increase  in  attendance  —  200,000  pass  through  the  turnstiles  in  six 
days — and  in  the  number,  variety  and  character  of  the  exhibits. 
That  the  State  is  willing — and  has  been  willing — to  go  just  as  far  in  developing  the  institution  as  interest  on  the 
part  of  the  public  would  seem  to  demand  is  shown  in  the  adoption  by  the  Legislature  of  the  broad,  comprehensive 
permanent  grounds  plan  calling  for  the  construction  of  a  plant  of  steel,  stone  and  brick  at  an  outlay  of  $2,000,000  and 
on  a  scale  never  before  attempted  in  this  country. 


President  Tafl  at  the  State  Fair,  1911 


Manufacturers  and  Liberal  Arts  Building 


Thus  far  the  State  has  spent  about  $700,000  for  new  buildings  and  the  equal  of  these  great,  commodious  structures 
cannot  be  found  in  any  other  State  of  the  Union. 

While  considering  the  wonderful  success  scored  by  the  State  in  the  exposition  of  1 9 1  1  it  is  of  some  interest  to  recall 
the  first  New  York  State  Fair.  That,  also,  was  held  in  Syracuse  in  the  year  1  84 1 ,  the  outcome  of  a  movement  perfected  in 
1832  when  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society  was  formed  in  Albany. 

The  Fair  of  1  84  1  had  nine  classes  for  cattle,  the  premiums  in  each  run- 
ning from  $23  to  $40;  two  classes  for  horses  with  $40  in  prizes  in  each;  two 
for  swine  with  prizes  of  $23  in  each;  also  eight  classes  of  implements,  one  of 
butter  and  one  of  cheese.  About  1  0,000  people  attended  and  the  Fair  was 
rated  a  big  success. 

After  that  the  Fair  was  shifted  to  different  cities  with  varying  success. 
Like  many  other  fairs,  an  era  of  decadence  set  in,  notwithstanding  the  help 
from  the  State,  and  in  1  889  it  welcomed  an  offer  from  Syracuse  of  a  resting 
place  just  west  of  the  city.    The  site  became  the  Fair's  permanent  home. 

The  Fair  continued  under  the  auspices  of  the  New  York  State  Agricul- 
tural Society.  Even  with  more  permanent  buildings — the  best  Fair  buildings 
in  the  State  at  that  time — an  excellent  geographical  location  and  grounds  of 
about  120  acres  skirted  by  two  important  railroads — the  West  Shore  and  the 
Lackawanna — the  Fair  did  not  meet  expectations.  Something  was  lacking. 
The  solution  came  in  1  899  when  the  State  took  over  the  plant  and  lodged 
the  management  of  the  exposition  with  a  Commission. 

While  slow  in  development  during  the  first  years  of  State  control,  the 
exposition,  benefited  by  educational  features  and  a  management  of  depart- 
ments based  upon  careful  study  and  a  knowledge  of  the  demands  of  the 
interests  these  departments  were  supposed  to  represent,  soon  went  ahead  at 
a  rapid  pace. 

The  exposition  of  1911  has  been  pronounced  by  agricultural  and  other 
authorities,  the  greatest  in  the  history  of  the  institution.  The  attendance, 
although  held  down  by  frequent  spells  of  unfavorable  weather,  reached  very 

close  to  200,000.  Governor  T>ix 


Entrances  to  Three  Buildings 


sl  COUNTRY'S  GREATEST  CATTLE  SHOW  m* 


/A 


S  it  rightly  deserves,  New  York  State  now  has  the  greatest 


Dairy  Sire 


annual  cattle  show.     New  York  is  the  leading  dairy  State 
because  of  the  number  and  the  value  of  its  dairy  cattle.  And 
nowhere  east  of  the  Mississippi  can  be  seen  a  better  beef  cattle  show 
than  at  the  New  York  Fair. 

The  classes  in  1911  attracted  record  entries  for  nea  rly  all 
breeds.  While  the  Holstein-Friesians  did  not  equal  the  record  of 
1908,  when  the  Fair  had  the  biggest  show  of  this  breed  ever  seen 
in  this  country,  the  quality  was  pronounced  of  a  higher  standard. 


There  were  approximately  1 ,000  cattle  on  the  grounds.  The  five 
herds  of  Red  Polls  shown  included  the  three  best  herds  in  the  United 
States.  There  were  five  herds  each  of  Hereford  and  Aberdeen-Angus 
and  four  each  of  Devon  and  Shorthorn.  Also  there  were  two  herds  of 
milking  Shorthorns.  In  the  dairy  classes  the  Holstein  and  Guernsey 
breeds  were  represented  by  seven  herds  each,  Jersey  by  six,  Brown  Swiss 
and  Ayrshire,  four  each;  French  Canadian  and  Dutch-Belted,  three  each; 
Galloway,  Dexter  and  Kerry,  one  each.  The  quality  generally  was  higher 
than  in  any  previous  year. 


Beef  Sire 


In  the  Parade  of  Prize  Winners,  1911 


Young  Stock  —  Brown  Swiss  Heifers  under  one  year  and  Holstein  Bulls  under  one  Jjea 


Group  of  Bull  Classes,  1911 


EW  YORK  CITY  is  one  of  the  greatest  markets  in  the  world  for  the  heavy  draft  horse  ;  also  it  is  one  of  the 
most  important  distributing  points  for  horses  of  this  type.    Big  corporations  in  Philadelphia,  Washington, 
Baltimore,  Boston  and  other  large  cities  of  the  East  look  to  the  New  York  market  for  draft  horses.  Practically 
all  of  these  have  been  supplied  from  the  western  states  and  Canada. 

There  appears  to  be  no  good  reason  why  New  York  farmers  should  not  reap  the  benefits  of  this  market. 


Teams  of  Six  in  Show  Ring,  191 1 


Governor  and  JHCrs.  T)ix  in  Show  Ring 


THE     HEAVY     DRAFT     HORSES  —  Continued 

They  can  produce  this  type  of  horse  as  cheaply  as  any  other  and  it  appears  to  be  only  the  matter  of  a  start  in 
the  right  direction  in  the  draft  horse  breeding  business. 

Horse  Department  A  of  the  New  York  State  Fair  for  farm,  breeding  and  draft  horses,  established  as  a  separate 
department  two  years  ago  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  is  proving  of  great  educational  value 
to  the  New  York  farmer.  Here  are  shown  some  of  the  best  representatives  in  this  country  of  the  different  breeds 
of  heavy  draft  horses  and  the  exhibition  serves  to  let  the  farmer  know  the  type  of  stallion  to  pick  for  his  mares 
in  order  to  market  the  get  profitably. 

The  show  of  1911  was  probably  the  best  of  its  kind  ever  seen  in  the  East.  There  were  294  entries  comprising 
345  horses,  almost  double  the  entry  of  the  preceding  year  when  the  heavy  horse  department  was  started  along 
new  lines.  This  indicates  that  the  Commis- 
sion's educational  campaign  was  effective  from 
the  very  outset. 

Splendid  types  of  animals  were  seen  in 
all  of  the  classes  for  imported  breeds — Perch- 
eron,  Clydesdale,  Belgian,  Suffolk,  Shire,  French 
Coach  and  German  Coach.  The  premiums  in 
this  department  were  approximately  $6,000, 
over  double  the  amount  offered  in  1910.  As 
an  encouragement  to  the  beginner  in  the 
breeding  business  there  were  several  classes 
for  grade  draft  horses,  some  limited  to  horses 
owned  by  New  York  State  farmers.    $9,000  is 

offered  in  premiums  for  the  1912  show.  Stallion  Class 


'Uypes  of  Stallions  and  Mares,  191 1 


gjggils  FRUIT   GROWING  INDUSTRY^^ 

THE  fruit  growing  industry  in  Eastern  States  has  been  developing  rapidly.     New  York  growers  are  anxious  to 
compete  with  the  big  fruit  interests  of  the  West  in  the  growing  and   handling  of  fruit  for  the  best  markets. 
Evidence  of  this  is  seen  at  the  State  Fair  and  with  a  view  of  encouraging  this  spirit,  the  New  York  State  Fair 
Commission  is  giving  more  attention  to  commercial  packs  of  fruit-boxes,  barrels  and  baskets  ready  for  market. 

It  is  recognized  that  New  York  can  produce  the  finest  quality  of  fruit,  but  the  East  has  been  behind  the  West 
in  the  methods  of  grading  and  packing.  The  State  experiment  station  at  Geneva  has  given  much  attention  to  this 
phase  of  the  industry  and  the  State  Fair  has  offered  opportunity  for  enlightening  the  growers.  Members  of  the 
station  staff,  located  in  the  State  Institutions  building,  are  ready  at  all  times  to  give  expert  advice  on  this  subject. 

The  fruit  department  of  the  Fair  has  been  growing  steadily  in  importance.  The  exhibits  of  the  county  and 
local  societies  have  been  increasing  in  number  and  quality.  The  collections,  attractively  staged,  have  been  of  great 
educational  value. 

The  advantages  offered  growers  were  repeatedly  demonstrated  during  the  exposition  of  1911.  On  the  strength 
of  attractive  exhibits,  associations  took  orders  for  barrels  of  apples  at  $4  a  barrel  which  ordinarily  would  have  sold 
for  $3  or  less. 

The  display  of  vegetables,  flowers,  etc.,  also  told  of  increased  interest  in  this  department.  Four  farmers'  clubs 
had  exhibits  of  vegetables  as  compared  with  two  in  1910  and  there  were  five  large  collections  of  vegetables  as 
compared  with  four  the  preceding  year.  Besides  the  New  York  State  Vegetable  Growers  Association  had  an 
instructive  exhibit  of  vegetables  in  packages  ready  for  market. 


Fruit  and  Farm  Produce,  1911 


Flower  Exhibit  in  Horticultural  Hall,  191 1 


i^^^jRICH    DAIRY  INTERESTS^^ 

AGRICULTURAL  authorities  who  make  a  practice  of  visiting  all  of  the  big  Fairs  appear  to  be  agreed  that  the 
exhibit  in  the  Dairy  building  at  the  New  York  State  Fair  is  far  superior  to  anything  of  its  kind  in  any  other 
State.    It  covers  every  phase  of  dairying,  fittingly  representing  an  industry  which  yields  $60,000,000  annually. 


In  the  Dairy  Supply  Department 


RICH      DAIRY      INTERESTS  Continued 

The  mammoth  permanent  building  of  rare  architectural  beauty  harmonizing  with  the  other  new  buildings, 
is  well  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  the  exhibit.  A  large  amphitheatre  offers  an  ideal  place  for  tests  and  demon- 
strations and  here,  during  the  Fair  of  1911,  thousands  reaped  the  benefits  of  the  numerous  educational  features. 
The  exhibits  are  cared  for  in  large  glass  front  refrigerators  around  the  walls  of  the  main  hall  and  a  system  of 
judging  before  the  opening  of  the  Fair  permits  the  visitors  to  pick  out  the  prize  products  and  learn  the  names 
and  addresses  of  the  successful  exhibitors. 

Of  the  270  butter  exhibitors  in  competitive  classes,  216  shared  pro  rata  in  the  cash  prizes — a  remarkable 
showing  of  products  considering  that  it  was  necessary  to  score  above  90  points.  There  was  an  unusually  large 
entry  in  the  cheese  classes  and  the  quality  was  superior  to  previous  exhibits.  Three-fourths  of  these  exhibitors 
shared  in  the  prize  money.  An  interesting  feature  in  this  department  was  furnished  by  a  cheese  from  Lewis 
county  weighing  5,527  pounds.  The  milk  required  in  its  manufacture  weighed  55,243  pounds.  Other  novel  exhibits 
were  life-size  busts  of  President  Taft  and  Governor  Dix,  modeled  in  New  York  State  butter.  The  individual 
exhibits  numbered  952. 

The  Dairy  building  offers  the  farmer  an  excellent  chance  to  study  the  latest  in  dairy  machinery  and  supplies 
and  to  learn  the  most  sanitary  and  most  profitable  methods  in  following  the  industry.  The  educational  feature  will 
be  emphasized  during  the  Fair  of  1912. 

The  demand  for  space  in  the  Dairy  Machinery  department  taxes  the  capacity  of  the  great  building.  All 
machines  are  driven  by  electric  power. 


DEMAND    FOR    BEST  SHEEP 


'ITH  a  steady  growth  in  the  sheep  breeding  interests  of  the  State  has  come  a  demand  for  better  breeding  stock. 
This  is  seen  every  year  at  the  State  Fair.  New  York  farmers  take  advantage  of  the  sheep  show  not  only  to 
study  the  various  breeds  but  to  obtain  high-class  stock.  During  the  Fair  of  1911  one  exhibitor  sold  a  ram  for 
$500  and  seven  ewes  at  $100  apiece.  Other  breeders  reported  sales  indicating  a  demand  for  a  high  quality  of  stock 
Some  declared  they  had  sold  more  sheep  at  the  Fair  than  during  the  entire  season  prior  to  the  Fair. 

There  were  over  1,300  entries  in  the  sheep  classes  in  191  1,  a  number  of  exhibitors  coming  from  the  Middle  West 
and  Canada.  The  breeds  included  Shropshire  —  and  it  was  probably  the  best  Shropshire  show  ever  known  —  Merino, 
Cotswold,  Southdown,  Hampshire,  Oxford  Down,  Cheviot,  Dorset  Horn,  Lincoln  and  Suffolk.  Some  of  the  most  noted 
flocks  in  the  United  States  were  shown. 


Angora  goats 
are  also  shown  in  the 
Sheep  house,  unusual 
interest  being  taken 
in  recent  years  in  the 
development  of  this 
breed. 

The  premiums 
offered  for  sheep 
total  $1,300,  exclu- 
sive of  special  money 
prizes  and  cups. 


Arriving  at  the  State  Fair 


Prize  Winning  Sheep,  1911 


GREAT     HOG  SHOW 


THE  hog  show  at  the  State  Fair  was  one  of  which  representatives  of  New  York  agricultural  interests  may  well 
feel  proud.    There  was  a  greater  variety  and  a  greater  number  than  ever  before  on  the  grounds.    No  national 
show  was  ever  more  complete.    Counting  the  little  pigs,  the  pens  held  nearly  1,000.    The  showing  was  generally 
accepted  as  indicating  a  growing  interest  in  the  best  stock. 

The  entries  were  heaviest  in  the  Berkshire  classes,  there  being  nine  herds  of  Berkshires.  There  were  seven  herds 
of  Chester  Whites  and  six  of  Duroc  Jerseys.  Other  breeds  represented  were  Poland  China,  Yorkshire,  Cheshire, 
Victoria,  Mulefoot  and  Hampshire. 

The  size  of  the  exhibit  was  sufficient  to  more  than 
crowd  the  existing  pens.  The  swine  breeding  interests 
of  the  State  are  gaining  each  year,  and  better  accom- 
modations at  the  State  Fair  are  one  of  the  most  essential 
improvements  for  the  near  future. 

Pending    the    erection    of    a    permanent  building, 
additional  pens  will  be  provided  for  the  1912  show. 

The  premiums  offered  in  this  department  approxi- 
mate $1600,  in  addition  to  the  special  prizes.  Get  of  Yorkshire  Sire 


Prize  Winning  Hogs,  191 1 


STATE    LEADS    IN  POULTRY»^ 


^NE  of  the  largest  collections  of  land  and  water  fowl  ever  brought  together  under  one  roof  in  the  United 
States  —  that  is  what  is  said  of  the  Poultry  exhibit  at  the  1911  State  Fair.    There  were  about  4,300  entries 
in   700  pens  and  nearly   1 ,000  cages  of  pet  stock,  pigeons,  bantams  and  purely  ornamental  breeds  to  add 
to  the  attractiveness  of  the  show.     A  large  tank  in  the  center  of  the 
Poultry  Building   contained  a  variety   of  birds  from   the  midget  ducks 
to  the  great  black  swans  and  white  swans. 

Most  of  the  exhibitors  in  the  Poultry  Building  were  New  York 
State  breeders,  although  some  other  States  and  Canada  were  repre- 
sented. The  White  Leghorns  led  in  the  number  of  entries  with 
Rhode  Island  Reds  and  White  Wyandottes  close  behind. 

The  Poultry  department  of  the  State  Fair  has  grown  until  the 
building  in  which  this  feature  is  housed  is  no  longer  adequate  or 
satisfactory.  With  the  erection  of  the  new  Poultry  Building  called  for 
in  the  permanent  Fair  plan  the  exhibition  —  and  the  general  public 
which  has  shown  genuine  interest  —  will  get  the  full  benefit  of  this 
department. 

The  Commission  looks  forward  to  the  time  when  it  may  receive 
appropriations  for  the  erection  of  an  up-to-date  building  which  will  con- 
tain room  for  poultry,  pet  stock  and  dogs,  and  an  amphitheatre  for  the 

education  of  the  public  as  to  the  killing,  dressing  and  packing  of  poultry.  Barred  Rock  Champion 


^^fg  ENCOURAGING  YOUNG  FARMERS  j^^Hg 

THE  Department  of  Agriculture,  with  healthy  young  material  gathered  from  the  agricultural  counties  of  the 
State,  is  trying  along  new  lines  to  increase  the  number  of  farmers.  Also  in  this  way  it  seeks  to  improve 
farming  conditions  generally ;  to  give  the  soil  the  benefit  of  the  most  approved  methods  of  agriculture. 


Farm  {T}oys  Listening  to  Lecture 


ENCOURAGING     YOUNG     FARMERS  Continued 


Considering  the  State  Fair  as  a  great  educational  institution  for  the  development  of  agriculture,  no  feature 
in  1911  stood  out  more  prominently  than  the  "One  Hundred  Farm  Boys  Company."  There  were  in  fact  128 
young  men  —  guests  of  the  State  Fair  Commission — eager  to  gather  all  of  the  knowledge  the  Fair  offers  through 
exhibits,  demonstrations  and  lectures. 

The  farm  boys,  ranging  in  age  from  15  to  19  years,  listened  to  instructive  talks,  one  by  Governor  Dix  and 
by  many  leading  agricultural  experts,  and  engaged  in  interesting  discussions  touching  all  branches  of  the  farming 
business.  Individually  the  boys  visited  the  exhibits  in  the  different  departments  of  the  Fair  and  did  a  lot  of 
quiet  study  on  their  own  account. 

That  the  decision  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  for  free  scholarships  for  farm  boys  at  the  Fair  will 
prove  of  inestimable  value  in  the  department's  work,  there  is  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  authorities  who  kept  in 
close  touch  with  the  band  of  youthful  agriculturists.  The  week  at  the  Fair,  it  was  declared,  afforded  the  boys 
education  of  a  greater  value  than  could  have  been  gained  through  any  other  experience.  Some  returned  to 
their  homes  with  the  announced  determination,  as  the  result  of  what  they  had  learned,  to  stick  to  the  farm  rather 
than  follow  any  profession. 

After  returning  to  their  homes  the  boys  were  given  opportunity  to  write  essays  not  exceeding  one  thousand 
words  on  what  they  saw  and  learned  at  the  State  Fair,  and  these  were  judged  in  competition.  Prizes  of  value  were 
awarded,  such  as,  pairs  of  pure  bred  calves,  sheep,  pigs  and  chickens,  also  fruit  trees,  seed  corn,  etc. 

So  far  as  possible,  the  alternates  chosen  in  1911  will  be  preferred  candidates  for  the  company  this  year.  The 
requirement  of  an  allotted  number  of  hours  work  at  the  camp  or  in  the  live  stock  buildings  has  been  eliminated, 
the  time  thus  spent  being  devoted  to  assisting  in  the  judging  rings. 


Group  of  Farm  Boys  in  Front  of  Grange  Building 


FARM  MACHINERY 


^Tj^HE  progressive  farmer  keeps  in  touch  with  the  latest  developments  in  farm  machinery.  It  is  important  that  he 
consider  the  effect  of  the  ever-increasing  line  of  mechanical  helpers  on  the  future  of  the  farming  business.  The 
tendency  is  growing  to  guard  against  an  unnecessary  expenditure  of  physical  energy  and  especially  is  this  so 
with  the  young  farmer  element.  The  matter  of  operating  a  gasoline  engine  will  hold  far  more  interest  for  the  young 
man  about  to  embark  upon  a  life  work  than  directing  a  squad  of  hired  men. 

There  is  much  to  study  at  the  State  Fair 
for  the  man  who  would  advance  his  farming 
interests,  but  it  is  questioned  whether  he  could 
put  in  a  more  profitable  day  than  in  the 
machinery  department.  This  department  of 
the  Fair  of  1 9 1  I ,  in  size  and  variety,  far  sur- 
passed any  display  of  former  years.  Every 
square  foot  of  space  allotted  for  machinery 
was  occupied  and  the  exhibits  were  more 
representative  of  the  manufacturing  industry 
than  ever  before.  Nearly  every  tent  where 
machinery  was  shown  had  a  gasoline  engine 
for  motive  power  and  the  traction  power  peo- 
ple were  not  behind  in  showing  machinery 
and  the  uses  to  which  it  might  be  put.  The 
demonstrations  were  always  witnessed  by 
groups   of   farmers  anxious  to  keep  abreast 

of  the  times.  Farm  Machinery 


S^^^jTHE   NEW   CATTLE   B  U  I  LP  I IM  G  ^HHg 

THE  number  and  value  of  the  herds  exhibited  at  the  State  Fair  have  so  increased  with  the  years  that  larger 
and  safer  show  quarters  became  a  pressing  need.  This  need  has  been  amply  met  by  the  erection  of  a 
magnificent  cattle  building  just  completed  at  a  cost  of  $200,000.  This  great  building  is  362  feet  long  and 
286  wide  and  is  of  yellow  brick,  cast  stone  and  steel  construction  and  is  uniform  in  detail  with  the  other  perma- 
nent buildings  on  the  grounds.  The  building  has  a  capacity  of  928  animals,  for  which  specially  built  iron  pipe 
stalls  are  provided.  Wide  aisles  separate  the  stall  courses  and  a  clear  and  unobstructed  view  of  the  entire  interior 
may  be  had  from  any  point  within. 


i 


$200,000  Cattle  Building  to  be  Completed  August  10,  1912 


^MmM,  STATE     INSTITUTIONS  SSHH 


THE  State   Institutions  Building  joined  with  the  Grange  Building  and  by  colonnades  with  the  Dairy  Building, 
held    many  interesting    exhibits  during  the  Fair  of    1911.      Samples  of  work  accomplished,  photographs, 
drawings  and  pamphlets  were  used  in  enlightening  thousands  of  visitors  in  regard  to  State  institutions  about 
which  little  is  known  by  the  general  public. 

The  Craig  Colony  for  Epileptics  at  Sonyea,  Livingston  County,  the  State  School  for  the  Blind  at  Batavia, 
and  the  Thomas  Indian  School  at  Iroquois,  Erie  county,  send  interesting  exhibits  each  year  showing  the  methods 
employed  at  these  institutions  and  the  work  of  the  inmates.  An  exhibition  by  the  Lunacy  Commission  illustrates 
in  a  forcible  way  how  the  feeble  minded  are  given  useful  employment.  The  Prisons  Commission  exhibits  a  line 
of  articles  manufactured  at  the  prisons   showing  the  efficiency  of  the  system  under  which  convict   labor  is  directed. 

The  State  College  of  Agriculture  at  Cornell  University  and  the  State  Agricultural  Schools  at  Morrisville, 
Canton  and  Alfred,  demonstrate  their  courses  in  practical  husbandry,  while  the  State  Experimental  Station  at 
Geneva  has  an  annual  exhibit  which  is  intensely  interesting  to  the  progressive  farmer. 

The  Forest,  Fish  and  Game,  the  Water  Supply  and  Forestry  Departments  of  the  Conservation  Commission 
and  the  Barge  Canal  Commission  have  working  exhibits  which  attract  universal  attention. 

The  State  Labor  Department  has  an  exhibit  of  special  interest  to  the  wage  worker  and  his  employer.  The 
State  Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures  has  a  most  important  exhibit,  valuable  to  all  classes  of  people.  The  Depart- 
ment of  Health  lets  the  public  know  about  its  fight  against  contagious  diseases  and  advantage  is  taken  of  the 
opportunity  for  extending  the  campaign  for  checking  the  spread  of  tuberculosis.  The  State  Veterinary  College, 
State  Charities,  the  excise  and  educational  and  banking  departments  are  represented. 


Exhibits  of  State  Institutions 


f^mm^  THE    WOMEN'S    BUI  LDI  NG^S 


P^HERE  is  no  resting  place  on  the  State  Fair  grounds  more  popular  with  women  and  children  than  the  Women's 
Building  and  Hospital.    Here  every  convenience  and  comfort  is  offered  and  in  case  of  accident  or  temporary 
weakness  or  indisposition,  physicians  and  experienced  nurses  are  at  hand.     Every  year  hundreds  of  women 
with  little  children  take  advantage  of  the  accommodations  in  the  nursery. 

Musical  programs  and  lectures  in  an  auditorium  with  a  seating  capacity  of  400  furnish  entertainment.  One 
of  the  purposes  of  this  department  is  to  educate  visitors  in  the  work  of  clubs  and  societies,  the  programs  being 
furnished  by  women's  clubs  of  all  sections  of  the  State. 


19Bg@Bi  DOMESTIC  DEPARTMENTS^ 


CLASSES  to  the  number  of  755  with  awards  of  approximately   $2,000  give  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the 
Domestic  and  Art  Department  located   in  the  Manufacturers  and   Liberal  Arts  Building.     The   exhibits  in 
1911   totaled   3,824,  a  new  record  for  the  department.     The  art  work,  fancy  sewing  and  culinary  and  other 
domestic  products  never  fail  to  attract  the  interest  of  a  large  percentage  of  Fair  visitors. 


FOR     MUSIC     LOVER  SWMmi* 

ALL  Fairs  and  Expositions  have  music.  No  Fair  would  be  considered  complete  without  a  band.  However,  few 
places  in  the  country  provide  open-air  entertainment  for  music  lovers  on  the  scale  of  the  band  concerts  at 
the  State  Fair.  For  an  hour  every  morning  one  of  the  leading  musical  organizations  which  has  appeared 
before  critical  audiences  in  all  of  the  large  cities  of  the  country  is  heard  in  Empire  State  Court,  and  in  the  afternoon 
a  program,  largely  of  an  operatic  order,  is  given  in  the  race  paddock.  To  the  minds  of  thousands  of  State  Fair 
visitors  the  band  concerts  provide  one  of  the  very  enjoyable  features  of  the  exposition. 


6 

■  B|l  ■ 

IgEB]  1  ■ 

4 


-  ■ 


Crowd  about  Band  Stand  in  Empire  Slate  Court 


gj8Bg@Bi  GRAND    CIRCUIT  RACES^^ 


GREAT  percentage  of  the  people  who  go  to  a  State  or  a  County  Fair  expect  to  see  a  horse  race.  Many 


would  never  know  of  the  educational  features  of  a  great  exposition  were  they  not  attracted  by  entertain- 


ment. Horse  racing  has  furnished  the  feature  of  the  bill  of  entertainment  at  Fairs  in  this  country  for  over 
half  a  century  and  today  there  is  no  evidence  of  a  waning  interest.  In  fact  Fair  visitors  have  been  demanding 
sport  of  a  class  equal  to  that  of  meetings  promoted  by  the  strongest  racing  associations. 

The  New  York  State  Fair  is  one  of  the  few  Fairs  in  the  United  States  which  provides  light  harness  horse 
racing  of  the  highest  standard.  This  is  possible  through  the  fact  that  the  State  Fair  mile  track — one  of  the  fastest 
circular  tracks  in  the  world — is  a  part  of  the  Grand  Circuit,  the  most  important  combination  of  racing  associations 
in  this  country.  Through  its  position  in  the  Grand  Circuit  the  State  Fair  meeting  attracts  each  year  the  leading 
campaigners  of  light  harness  horses,  and  patrons  of  the  Fair  witness  stirring  contests  and  trials  of  speed  by  the 
kings  and  queens  of  the  turf  handled  by  the  famous  reinsmen. 

Approximately  the  sum  of  $40,000  is  offered  in  prize  money  at  the  State  Fair  race  meeting,  this  sum  including 
$10,000  for  the  Empire  State  stake,  a  classic  which  attracts  the  attention  of  the  horse  world.  The  fact  of  the  offering 
of  $40,000  does  not  mean  that  the  racing  feature  is  a  costly  one  for  the  State.  Considering  its  worth  as  a  revenue 
producing  feature  it  is  the  cheapest  attraction  the  Fair  has.  The  State  Fair  meeting  never  fails  to  attract  a  large 
entry  and  the  entrance  fees  come  very  near  to  meeting  the  amount  offered  in  purses. 

But  with  the  State  of  New  York  the  race  meeting  is  not  merely  a  matter  of  providing  entertainment  for  the 
crowds  of  visitors.  It  meets  another  purse.  The  horse  breeding  establishments  in  this  State  represent  investments 
aggregating  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  and  the  very  foundation  of  this  breeding  business  depends  on  the 
market  for  the  light  harness  horse.  The  Fair  with  its  Grand  Circuit  race  meeting  not  only  encourages  an  interest 
in  the  race  horse  and  the  roadster  but  improves  the  market  for  the  farmer  who  raises  hay  or  straw  or  grain. 


At  the  Races — Governor  Dix  and  Lieutenant  Governor  Conway;  Donald  Dey,  president  of  Evening  Karnival; 
Adjutant  General  Verbeck,  in  charge  of  Military  Day,  1912 


ggj«  AVIATION  MEET  AND  MILITARY  FETE  ggfjgg 


THE  exposition  has  for  the  past  two  years  afforded  the  peo- 
ple of  the  State  the  best  opportunities  for  studying  the 
progress  in  aviation  with  heavier-than-air  machines  and 
for  witnessing  the  most  sensational  feats  of  the  bird-men. 
Last  year  daring  aviators  flew  from  the  Fair  grounds 
over  Onondaga  lake  and  the  city  of  Syracuse  for  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles,  rose  at  times  to  an  altitude  of  5,000  feet 
and  gave  stirring  exhibitions  of  diving  and  volplaning  in 
showing  control  of  the  biplane.  Weather  conditions  never 
interfered  with  the  exhibitions.  The  daring  bird-men  flew 
in  the  wind  as  fearlessly  as  during  a  calm.  Frequently  dur- 
ing the  week  passengers  were  carried  on  the  long  trips 
through  the  air. 

For  the  1912  Fair  an  aviation  meet  has  been  arranged 
on  a  scale  never  before  attempted  except  at  the  international 
meets  of  the  Federated  /Eronautical  Clubs  of  the  wo  rid. 
Three  times  every  day  during  the  Fair  there  will  be  a  series 
of  exhibitions  and  maneuvres  by  at  least  two  machines,  show- 
ing the  progress  made  in  the  science  of  flight.  The  program 
will  be  concluded  each  day  by  a  five  or  ten  mile  race  with  two  or  more  latest  type  machines  participating. 

On  Saturday  of  Fair  Week  four  or  six  biplanes  will  be  seen  in  a  thirty  or  fifty  mile  race  around  the  Fair  track. 
This  great  attraction  will  be  the  crowning  feature  of  a  day  given  over  to  actual  demonstrations  of  the  use  of  the 
aeroplane  in  time  of  war  which  will  be  given  in  conjunction  with  a  novel  military  fete  arranged  by  Adjutant-General 
William  Verbeck  of  the  New  York  State  militia. 

In  the  military  maneuvres  every  arm  of  the  service  will  be  represented  by  several  regiments.  Mounted  cavalry 
and  artillery  will  have  the  largest  representation  and  exhibitions  of  troop  and  fancy  riding,  hurdle  and  obstacle  races 
will  be  features.  Scouting,  bomb-dropping  and  target  shooting  from  various  altitudes,  and  pursuit  races  will  introduce 
the  aeroplane  into  this  mimic  war  game. 


AVIATION     MEET     AND     MILITARY     FETE  —  Continued 


The  aviation  meet  arranged  for  Saturday  will  be  the  feature  event  of  the  week,  the  aerial  karnival  which  will 
have  been  in  progress  for  six  days  culminating  in  a  series  of  contests  which  will  be  open  to  the  licensed  aviators 
of  the  world.  A  special  prize  will  be  offered  for  the  breaking  of  any  world's  record.  $2,000  in  prizes  is  offered 
in  the  events,  which  will  include  endurance,  speed  and  altitude  tests. 


Wright  and  Curtiss  Machines  in  Flight,  New  York  State  Fair 


EQUINE  ARISTOCRATS 


kNE  of  the  horse  show  rings  in  the  infield  of  the  mile  track  at  the  State  Fair  is  the  scene  of  an  exhibition  on  the 
order  of  the  greatest  horse  shows  of  the  world  like  the  International  at  Olympia,  London,  and  the  National  at 
Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York.  In  fact  many  of  the  exhibitors  at  the  London  and  New  York  shows  are 
seen  at  the  State  Fair.  In  1911  the  sum  of  approximately  $8,000  was  awarded  to  owners  of  the  highest  types  of  horses 
and  ponies.  Interesting  competition  is  furnished  by  the  finest  high-acting  coach  horses;  the  pony  classes  arouse  the 
greatest  enthusiasm  and  the  exhibitions  by  jumpers  and  hunters  are  always  of  the  thrilling  order. 

In  this  department  of  the 
Horse  Show  are  exhibited  Hack- 
neys, Shetland  and  other  ponies 
under  saddle  and  in  harness,  light 
and  heavy  harness  horses,  road- 
sters, tandems,  four-in-hand  teams, 
saddle  horses,  hunters  and  jump- 
ers and   military  and  police  horses. 

In  succeeding  Fairs  the  hunt- 
ers and  jumpers  will  probably  be 
seen  on  the  mile  track  in  to  1  % 
mile  races  and  steeplechases  with 
amateur  riders  up. 


Jumpers  in  the  Show  Ring 


In  the  Pony  Classes,  1911 


Best  in  All  Types,  1911 


MOUNTED  POLICEl 


THE  people   of   New   York  City  have  been   waking  up  to  the   importance  of  the  State's  annual  exposition. 
They  are   beginning  to   appreciate  what   it   really   represents.    But  a  few  years  ago  the  Metropolis  refused 
to  extend  interest  beyond  the  Horse  Show,  which  has  always  had  the  support  of  the  leading  exhibitors  of 
the  big  cities  of  the  East.     Now  wealthy  New  Yorkers  are  entering  in  the  cattle,  sheep,  swine  and  poultry  depart- 
ments.   The   Mayor  of   Greater  New  York  visits  the  Fair  and   New  York's  Mounted  Police  —  as  fine  a  body  of 
horsemen  as  there  is  in  the  world  —  spends  a  week  at  the  Fair  giving  drills  and  exhibitions  of  horsemanship. 


The  Mounted  Squad  furnishes  one  of  the  highly  spectacular  features  of  the  exposition.  That  these  officers 
were  always  ready  for  traffic  duty  or  to  assist  the  Fair  Commission  in  an  emergency  was  shown  during  the 
Grand  Circuit  races  when  a  broken  rein  was  responsible  for  a  runaway  on  the  race  track.  The  wild  chase  after 
the  horse  by  the  first  of  the  mounted  police  to  reach  the  track  was  in  full  view  of  50,000  people.  Reining 
alongside  of  the  runaway  while  galloping  at  full  speed 
the  officer  leaned  far  out  of  his  saddle,  grabbed  the  bridle 
and  pulled  the  horse  to  a  walk  without  the  slightest  injury' 
to  the  animal  or  the  driver  who  had  remained  helplessly 
in  the  racing  wagon  during  a  two  mile  run. 

Mayor  William  J.  Gaynor  was  one  of  the  distinguished 
visitors  at  the  Fair  of  1911   and  he  was  accompanied  by 

Police  Commissioner  Rhinelander  Waldo.  Prize  Winners  in  Traffic  Squad 


WMmis  PERMANENT  IMPROVEMENTS,  1912  l^ris:-^ 


PERMANENT  improvements  made  at  the  State  Fair  Grounds  this  year  besides  the  $200,000  Cattle  Building 
include  an  ornamental  main  entrance  and  terminal  buildings  for  the  New  York  Central  and  Lackawanna 
railroads.    These  are  constructed  of  brick  and  stone  and  cost  approximately  $30,000. 

Coin-controlled  turnstiles  will  be  used  at  all  the  entrances  this  year.  These  operate  automatically  on  the 
insertion  of  a  fifty  cent  piece  and  will  simplify  the  task  of  handling  the  crowds  at  the  rush  hours. 

The  new  exits  provided  at  the  railroad  terminals  are  so  many  in  number  and  so  convenient  in  arrangement 
that  all  possibility  of  crowd  congestion  at  these  points  is  absolutely  eliminated. 


IIIIIITHE    STATE'S  ATHLETES^^ 


THE  plan  for  an   annual   athletic   meet  at   the  State   Fair  with  a  view  to  bringing  together  athletes  from  all 
sections  of  the  State,  was  inaugurated   at  the   Fair  of  1911.    The   running  races  participated   in   by  teams 
representing  colleges,   preparatory   schools  and    high   schools  of  many  cities,   furnishes  a  highly  interesting 
feature.     The  relay  races  brought  out  a  large  number  of  promising  young  athletes  and  resulted  in  spirited  contests. 
The  appearance  of   Martin  Sheridan  and   Melvin  Shepard,  holders  of  world's  championships,  added  to  the  import- 
ance of  the  games. 


The  State's  Athletes  —  Schoolboys'  Dash 


^MmM.W  IGH    CLASS    MIDWA  Y  I^SWMm 

HILE  the  substantial  foundation  of  the  State  Fair  is  furnished  by  countless  exhibits  of  a  high  character 
and  the  many  valuable  lessons  it  teaches  agriculturists,  the  exposition  would  be  far  from  complete  without 
features  providing  amusement  and  entertainment.  The  Fair  grounds  devoted  entirely  to  the  objects  of 
a  strictly  educational  institution  would  be  a  dull  place  for  a  big  percentage  of  the  200,000  people  who  now  go  to 
the  State  Fair.     Thousands  would  never  receive  instruction  were  they  not  attracted  to  instruction  by  entertainment. 


The  New  York  State  Fair  Commission  has  provided 
amusement  features  of  a  character  in  keeping  with  the 
rest  of  the  exposition.  The  Midway  which  is  now  a  part 
of  every  important  exposition  is  made  up  of  many  shows, 
clean,  wholesome  and  above  criticism  in  every  way.  Some 
idea  of  the  standard  maintained  in  the  Midway  may  be 
gained  from  the  knowledge  that  just  one  of  the  many 
attractions  at  the  Fair  of  1911  consisted  of  a  complete 
Wild  West  Show. 

The  Midway  of  the  1912  Fair  will  occupy  larger  and 
more  central  quarters  on  one  of  the  main  thoroughfares. 
There  will  be  ten  feature  shows  instead  of  one  as  heretofore 
and  every  show,  free  or  otherwise,  will  be  of  the  highest 
type  available. 


On  the  Midway 


"mmwsh Syracuse   entertains W^m^ 

THE  MYSTIQUE  KREWE  OF  KA-NOO-NO  was  organized  with  the  object  of  providing  free  evening  entertain- 
ment for  Fair  visitors.   For  the  past  eight  years  the  Ka-Noo-No  Karnival,  consisting  of  brilliant  spectacles,  pageantry 
parades  and  band  concerts,  conducted  on  a  scale  as  elaborate  as  that  of  the  Mardi  Gras  of  New  Orleans,  has  been 
held  in  connection  with  the  State  Fair.    It  costs  the  people  of  Syracuse  about  $75,000  every  year  for  the  electric 
lighting  —  the  center  of  the  city  is  made  as  light  as  day — floats,  costumes  and  decorations.    Leading  citizens  impersonate 
the  characters  in  the  Karnival,  the  program  of  which  changes  every  year,  and  in  one  floral  parade  5,000  little  school 
children  march  or  ride  on  floats.    The  entire  program,  covering  five  days  of  the  week,  is  free  to  the  public. 


Ready  for  the  Karnival  Parades 


/ERY  ARCHITECTURAL  AND  FINE  ARTS  LIBRARY 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


